More barrages, check dams planned across the Palar
The Hindu
Surplus to be diverted to meet city’s drinking water needs
The Palar, which has been in full flow this year, may soon have two barrages and more check dams built in Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts. There are plans to divert surplus water to city lakes to cater to the city’s drinking water needs.
The projects are awaiting the State government’s nod. This year, nearly 3.5 tmcft was stored both as surface water and groundwater recharge in three recently constructed check dams alone across the Palar at Pazhayaseevaram, Esur Vallipuram and Vayalur. However, the river continued to have good flow as the regions upstream, including Kaveripakkam, received good rain during the southwest monsoon. About one tmcft of floodwater had drained into the sea, said officials of the Water Resources Department.
The department has submitted a proposal to build a ₹380-crore barrage across the river near Udayambakkam-Padalam for the benefit of residents and also convert the Vayalur check dam into a barrage. Once these two barrages with shutter arrangements are built, each of them would have a potential to store nearly 2.5 tmc both as surface and groundwater.